Valve lock



Jan- 5, 1931- c. A. Pflug-:AL 1,788,233

VALVE LOCK' Filed'Jan. 18 1929 Patented Jan.l 4.6, 1931 l'PA*'rENT-oFF-lele;

CHARLESy A. FINGAL, or CHICAGO, IiiLINoIsk VALVE Loox Application meaJanuafy is, ,1929. serial ne. 333,258. Y

`The present invention relates toa radiator or other steam apparatusyhaving an air-venting or vaciiuln valve therein and has particu-` larlytodo withy a means for securingsuch valve to the radiator or suchapparatus. Y At the present time, there is a tendency to providebetterheat control through theelnployment of radiator air' venting or vacuum.valves yand other instrumentalities directly aiiixed to a radiatorrather vthan by means which are remote therefrom. Withthe de-v velopmentof improved valves for radiators,

it has been possible to obtain higher eliiciency from a radiator,andto'keep them free from imprisoned airand condensed steam.

Naturally, withthe development of suchv valves, the value of valves hasincreased to such an extent that a radiator valve may involve,`even atwholesale, a greater vaille thanV the radiator itself. In fact, it isbelieved that a large number of the valves n owjon' thefmarket maybelikened to watch mechanisms 'in their precision. M i Y 1 l Everyradiator, except possibly a few, is

provided with a tapped hole of some char-` acter to receive a valve. Thevaluable valves are inserted into these tapped holes just'the same as an`inexpensive valve.

It has become quite'a temptation for the l tenant of a house, an office,or an'apartment,

realizing the value ofthe valves upon the radiators therein, to removethe morevalu'able ones when opportunity presents, sometimes to replacethem with inexpensive devices and sometimes without replacement, sellingor otherwise disposing ofthese valuable devices. This occurs most ifrequently when a tenant is about tovacate the preniises or when thereis an intruder thereupon. 4o The losses in this mannerto ofhce .buildingowners, apartment house owners, andV dwelling house owners, have becomemore than inconsiderable, f i The object of the present invention,primarily, is to provide a means for firmly vsecuring to va radiator avalve used thereon and which will prevent the ready removal thereof, and.which may not be removed except by the employmentv of special tools orkeys.

In carrying out such object, a device adaptedtoloe added to a valve andradiator as-an accessory has been' provided, but -there is nothing inthe structure of the locking mem-n ber which inherently prevents it frombeing made as a part of the valve struct-ure itself. The objecthereinabove stated, and sucli'other objects as may hereinafterfappear,are obtained by the novel construction, unique ,combination, andimproved arrangement of the several elements comprising the invention,severalV forms of which are illustrated inthe accompanying single sheetof drawing, and in which Figure 1 isa fragmentary end elevationof aradiator upon whicha valve and locking" member are disposed;

v'Figure 2 is a'horizontal lineQ-Q of Figure 1';

Figure 3 is a dissembled perspective view oftheseveral parts whichconstitute the locking means;` 4 Figure 4 is a perspective view of thespecial key whereby the device is adapted to be attached to and removedfrom a radiator; Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation of a valve and alocking arm therefor showing a `second manner inwhich the locking armmay be applied to a valve; c Figure 6 illustrates', as a fragmentaryelevation, another manner in which a locking' i arm may be secured to aradiator valve; and

Figure 'i'v is a similar view showing the application of alocking arm toa different type of valve. l

Like` reference characters are used to designate similarpait-s in thedrawings hereinabove referred to and inthe description of the devicehereinafter given.

c Except in Figure 7, the valve adapted for illustrative purposes isVone which is com-V l monly met upon the market, i.'e. the Hoffmanvalve..f n p t vThis valve comprises a-body 10 which ls attached throughthe aid Vof a nipple to a radiator 12 having parallel sections 13 andle..

The body 10 comprises several sections', the bottom section 15 being`larger than the top section 16, and having aV flange or beading 1?thereabout and at its lowermost edge.`

A pluralityof spaced-apart ribs 18 extend section along the Y l2. thehead 19 is the topmost portion.

longitudinallyT of the smaller portion 16 of the body, such ribsterminatingremote from the topof the valve. Secured to the uppermostportion 16 of the valve l() and where the narrovv portion of the body isconst Acted'is a head 19 having therein a plurality of movable parte`which permit or" the esca ie of air from the topthereefunder;conditionsL better described and delined 1n the variouspatents relatingto such valve. Y

When the valve l0 is seatedupon aradiat y There is therebeneath a spaceof probably tin quarters of an inch on the body section 16 ofthe valvewhich ends in the vertical ribs 18 yabove referred to.

. It is upon this circular section of the valve A body 16 that azlochmgarm 20 1s disposed.

This maT be fabricated andcomnrise a band J i v or other shape, or itmay comprise a twisted circular portion 21 of the locking` arm 20'should frictionally engage the body or' the valve 10 and may requiresome little force to make it applicable thereabout.

`The shank 220i locking arm 20 extends to the space between the sectionslfland 'le of the radiator l2, between adjacent Walls of which isdisposed. the radiator engaging section of a device which comprises abar# like` or rectangular member 24 forming the back section thereof, aspecially shaped mem ber 25 formino the front section, and a bolt 26which is adapted to bring the tv'o parts 24 and 25itogether, said boltbeing threaded into the back member'2il and being adapted to rotatefreely throughthe front member 25 which it dra-Ws, When rotated7 intocloser proximity to the back member 24;; of each member 2e and engageopposite` portions of the Walls ofsections 'l and let.

Such front member 25 is shapedA somewhat like a truncated pyramid, andis countersunk at 27 adjacent the bolt hole 2 8 t through so that thehead 29 'of the b when threaded intohole 3() in member fmay be inserteduntil Wellv below the top surfaceof member Y25. At tivo *back the outermember 25 has an oblique'or Veo itersunk edge 31 which is adapted tojust clear the material of the radiator section or thebeading thereon.`Atits other end, s id member 25 has a similar undercut sect on 32 andan outwardly extending lug 33 which is somewhat semi-circular at itsp-efripher'' V 'Through the length ot lug and thecon- Y 7 e Ya l mem ier25 tiere a tiguous sid u ll oiE l 2 l horizontal groove 34 into Whichthe curved end 23 of the locking arm 20 is adapted to 't lie y The endsbe seated, The depth of the groove from the front edge to the back edgeof such front Vmember issuch that a rictional engagement is had uponthesection 23 by 'the material of the radiator l2 and the member 25. Jo

secure is suoli grip thereon that the arm 20 ure 3.` The shank 22 of thearm 2() is inserted into the Groove 34 in the kouter member 25Whichmemoer is placed at one side ofi-adiator sections 13 and Mythebar-like member or back member2l being at the opposite side thereof.V Byturning the machine. bolt with a key 35 such as is illustrated in Figuree, the shankv 22 isdrmvn vinto intimate contact with the material of theradial'orl2 and the outer member 25. By continued rotation of themachine screw or bolt 26a the lool;- ing arm A2() is rmly secured inproper position? such Yposition normally being horizontal7 with the ringport-ion 2l ofrarm 20 disposed adjacent to the vertical ribs 18 upon thevalve. f

`For purposes of more irmly securing the.

device in positionJ it is sometimes erpedient to notch the edge orbeading portion of the radiator section 13 atthe point 36 to provide agroove Where the curved end 230i shank 22 engages suchbeading. Torelease the device the machine bolt'26 is loosened with the key rshoivninFig'ure l until thelocking varmr20 is disengaged, after which the Yarm20 may be turned to a suitable angular position to admit oi the radiatorvalve l0 beingloosened -from theradiator 12 by'ar-ot-ative mosunk hole27. 'It may be desirable to provide a ive-sided or seven-sided or othervirregularly shaped `head`29 for the bolt 26 so that no ordinary tool maybe inserted into lthe countersunlr hole for the purpose or' removing`such machine bolt yNumerous 'other methods may be employed to insure thefirm seating of such bolt 26, such as for example the application ofsolder, or the employment of. a tin ormetallic covering: adapted to bewedged into position after the locking arm 2Q has been secured inposition. le; lock and key may be associated with thelbolt 26 to prevent its rotation except When'the proper key apparatus is in assembledposi- Lacs cillary to the invention kproper and not lnec-l essary to itssuccessful practice,

' lVhere it is not desirable to apply the locking arm to the top of avalve 10, it may be placed about the lower portion 15 of the valve body10, it being adapted to be held upon such lower portion by the flanger`17 at the bottomof such body 10 and heretofore mentioned see Figure5). The ring section 21 of the locking arm is greater in circumferencein such a device. By using a twisted wire member as is illustrated inthe lpreceding figures, it is possible to attach the locking arm 20 by arotative motion wherebyv it is twistedy about the flange 17 until seatedVon the section 15.

A different method of attaching alock arm is shown in Figure 6. In thisparticular figure, the portion 16 of the body of the valve has ribs 48Which extend lengthwise ofmsaidV body 16 and over which a square endedportion 49 on a lock arm 20 isadapted to be frictionally seated. Y y

This method of attachment is very secure as the locking arm extendsfurther down the body 16 than in the first described device. square endportion 49 may readily be seated over the ribs and closely engage thispart of the device with substantially the same fac-ility as a round endmay engage the circular body of the valve.

In Figure 7, another type of valve 110 serving a .similar purpose as thevalve 10 shown in the preceding igures is illustrated. About this valvea similar locking arm 120 is employed, the attachment of the locking armto a radiator and to the valve being the same as the hereinabovedescribed devices. The operation of attachment and detachnient isidentical. The locking arm 120, as shown, is adapted to circumsc-ribethe central portion of valve 110 as shown.

The locking arm 20 need not always bek provided with a straight orsubstantially straight shank 22. There the radiator hole isinconveniently disposed for the use of a straight shank 22, said shankmay be bent up or down and shaped toaccominodate the positions of thevarious parts and it may even be made to assume in vertical section, avsubstantially Z-shape.

I claim: Y 1. The combination with a radiator, and a valve, of a lockingdevice for said valve com-` prising a loop ended member about said valveandanchored in said radiator. f

2. The combination with a radiator, and a valve, of a locking member forsaid valve I attached at'one end to the valve, and means inassociationwithfsaid radiator for securl ing the shank of said loop ended member.

4. The'combination with a radiator, and a valve, of locking meanscomprising a loop ended member upon said valve, and a radiator engaging"member adapted to secure .theV

shank offsaid loop ended member against displacement. I i

5. The combination with a radiator, and a i valve, of locking meanscomprising a loop ended memberabout said valve, and a rarable sectionsadapted to be advanced toward one another to secure the shank of saidloop ended member in a rigid position upon said radiator.

6. The combination with a radiator, and a valve, of locking meanscomprising a loop ended member rabout said valve, and a radiator`engaging member comprising a back section, a front section, andmeans forbring-V ing said sections together, the front section being adapted toengage the shank of said loopended member against said radiator toprevent relative movement thereof.

7. The combination with a radiator, and a valve, of a loop ended memberabout said valve, and radiator engaging member' comprising separablesections, Aone of which engages the shank of said loop ended member andmeans for bringing said sections together between upright portions ofsaid radiator to secure said shank upon said ra- V- 9.V Thecombinationwith radiator, and a valve having a nipple in threaded connection withlsaid radiator, of means engaging said valve and having a rod likeextension, and a radiator engagingthe body of member com- 3 prisingaback section, a front section in detachable connectionwith said rodlike eX- tension of `sa-idvalve engaging means, and means for attachingsaid sections to said radiator. Y s

t CHARLES A. FINGAL.

comprising a loop ended member adapted 'to i surround the body of saidvalve, and means for securing the shank of said loop ended member tosaid radiator.

y 3. The combination with a radiator, and a valve, of a loop endedmember adapted to be Vdiator engaging member comprising sepallO 'iso

